Joanne Dolan Design

04/13/2026

03/27/2026

F U N C T I O N F I R S T

There are so many details to be considered in a kitchen renovation, but the most important one - and the one you should start with - is the layout. This includes more than the location and spacing of the appliances, but also the size of the cutlery drawer; where the dishware will be stored and how far is that from the dishwasher; is there storage for all of your morning coffee essentials and counterspace for your dream espresso machine; is the location of the pantry convenient for how you cook and are there enough shelves to store your dry goods, etc. Taking your time in the planning phase will ensure your new kitchen functions perfectly for you.



If that list felt overwhelming for you, don’t worry. We LOVE working out these details and we’re just a call away.

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03/25/2026

T I L E T I P

One of the best ways to make a statement in a bathroom is with tile, and you don’t have to break the bank to do it. In this bathroom renovation, we used a simple subway tile in a bright blue shade and mixed it with white penny rounds to create the striped pattern. Taking the stripe pattern around the tub but only to the height of the knee wall, adds to the impact without overwhelming the room.

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03/23/2026

F E A S T . . .
. . your eyes on these dining spaces!

Want the recipe? Big (usually expandable) table + comfortable chairs + sideboard for storage and serving space + layers of great lighting (overhead and lamps!) = the perfect space for a feast.

Why am I suddenly so hungry?

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03/13/2026

M U S T L O V E D O G S

Fair warning to all future clients: if you have a dog – especially one as cute as Charles is – you MUST let them be at the photoshoot. In fact, I think I’ll write this into my contracts from now on. 😉 Oh! And the rest of this TV room is pretty cute too, just not as cute as the pupper, of course.

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03/12/2026

C O U N T ‘ E M

There are so many things to love in this photo … the leopard print trim and turned leg detail on the custom chaise; the layered pillows that look like you can sink right into them after tucking yourself under the comfy throw; the graphic impact of the black & white rug and how it contrasts the curvy softness of the chaise … and that’s before I even mention the view!

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03/11/2026

J E A L O U S Y

Is it right to be jealous of a teenager’s bedroom? Don’t get me wrong, I loved my room when I was a kid and rearranging the furniture every few months was a major foreshadow of my future career, but I didn’t have my own bathroom and a totally separate space just for hanging out with my friends. If I grew up with this room, I’d probably still be living there!

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03/05/2026

D I D W E M A K E I T ?

Is it Spring yet? Can we have some sunshine now? Can I PLEASE put away my winter boots??!

I swear that surviving winter in Ontario with your sanity intact gets harder every year.

Find yourself a ray of sunshine today and soak in that vitamin D (but maybe avoid the UV with some sunscreen, ok?)

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03/03/2026

M A K E I T Y O U R S

The days of renovating with resale in mind are GONE and I couldn’t be happier about that. Stop designing your home for some random future owner and start doing it for YOU! Pick the bold colours and choose the quirky details. Opting for FUN over SAFE is what will make your heart sing every time you come home. Trust me, you will not regret it!

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02/27/2026

T I M E L E S S D E T A I L S

When I talk about choosing timeless finishes and details, this is what I mean! Black and white is both neutral and striking. Penny rounds and subway tiles will NEVER go out of style. Hexagon may have been a tad overdone in recent years but it’s a classic shape for tiles and a great contrast to the linear elements in rooms like bathrooms and kitchens. Combining classic elements in modern ways is what makes this bathroom so beautiful today and for many years to come.

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02/25/2026

C O T T A G E V I B E S


Ilya said “I’m coming to the cottage” and we all melted. Then he called loons Wolf Birds and we fell helplessly in love. Canada is fun. 😉

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